Quality Improvement of Greenhouse Gas Inventories by the Use of Bottom-Up Data

The methodology report '2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories' shows higher tier method can be a good practice, which uses country-specific or plant-specific data when calculating greenhouse gas emissions by country. We review the methodology report to present principles of using plant-level data and also examine examples of using plant-level data in chemical and metal industry in 20 countries for the purpose of quality improvement of national greenhouse gas inventories. We propose that Korea consider utilizing plant-level data, as reported according to 'Greenhouse gas and Energy Target Management Scheme', in the following order as a preference. First, the data can be utilized for quality control of Korea's own parameters, when Tier 2 method is adopted and bottom-up approach is not applicable. Second, both plant-level data and IPCC default data can be used together, combining Tier 1 method with Tier 3 method. Third, we can also use acquired plant-level data and country specific parameters, combining Tier 2 method with Tier 3 method. Fourth, if the plant-level data involves all categories of emissions and the data is proven to be representative, we can apply Tier 3 method. In this case, we still need to examine the data to check its reliability by a consistent framework, including appropriate quality control.